How App Developers are Changing the Future of Healthcare

The healthcare system has generated a massive amount of data in the past half-decade. According to statistics compiled by PubMed, a major medical publications organization, the past five years have seen an incredible number of research studies and papers, including:

• 132,241 studies on hospital morbidity
• 39,230 studies on medication interactions and side effects
• 9,745 papers published on comparative treatment effectiveness
• 3,573 studies on factors contributing to hospital re-admissions

Despite the generation of huge collections of data, much of which could prove to be invaluable to the improvement of the healthcare system, there are only a limited number of production models in effect. This remains true despite the fact that the technological tools needed to analyze these data repositories are widely available — and this is where a healthcare app developer could step in to make a major contribution.

Doctors make continual efforts to improve their professional credentials and stay abreast of the latest trends, statistics, and research studies which could help them provide better care for their patients. However, given the sheer volume of literature being produced, it is extremely difficult if not impossible for a doctor to sift through all the studies and stats for information they could apply to their medical practice. Also, while there are currently healthcare-related apps used by both hospitals and patients to administrate admissions, monitor treatment programs, and aid in the recovery process, there is a great deal of potential for improvement.

From developing apps to help doctors review the latest studies to providing patients with self-care and recovery management tools, the Chicago iPhone app developer community and software professionals throughout the country have the power to affect positive changes in the healthcare industry. It is one of the most important institutions in our society, yet it is also one of the most under-served industries in terms of mobile applications and software tools.